OSOGBO, OSUN STATE — A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has reportedly expressed frustration over the party’s performance in the August 15, 2026 governorship election, blaming some of the party’s challenges on the strategy adopted by its leadership ahead of the poll.

In a linked audio recording obtained by our correspondent, the APC member claimed that he was surprised by the outcome of the election, alleging that despite the money reportedly spent by some party members and supporters during the election, the results did not favour the APC.

According to him, “angels changed the votes,” as he said he never expected the election to favour the Accord Party, which produced the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The speaker further alleged that some APC members spent unprecedented amounts of money in an attempt to influence voters, claiming that payments of ₦50,000 and ₦30,000 per voter were made in some locations.

He also cited a polling unit opposite Ayeso in Ilesha, where he alleged that votes were being bought for ₦35,000 in cash. These claims could not be independently verified from the audio recording or by our correspondent at the time of filing this report.

The APC member, however, appeared particularly critical of the party’s leadership, arguing that the problems responsible for the party’s defeat went beyond financial mobilisation.

He maintained that some party leaders had wrongly assumed that forceful political tactics and financial inducements could guarantee electoral victory, suggesting that the approach ultimately contributed to the party’s poor performance.

The comments come amid continuing reactions within the Osun APC following the governorship election, with some party members publicly and privately expressing dissatisfaction with the manner in which the party conducted its affairs before the poll.

The August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who secured a second term in office. APC candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, finished second, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Hon. Najeem Salaam, came third.

The election and its aftermath have continued to generate debate over campaign strategies, voter mobilisation, internal party organisation and the influence of money in Nigerian elections.

The claims contained in the audio recording remain allegations attributed to the unidentified APC member and should not be construed as independently established facts unless corroborated by additional evidence.